Liberty Vote Acquires Dominion to Rebuild Election Trust with Paper Ballots

Dominion Voting Systems, a provider of election technology, has been acquired by St. Louis-based Liberty Vote, marking a significant shift in the U.S. voting infrastructure landscape. The transaction, announced on October 9, 2025, sees the company rebranded under Liberty Vote, a move emphasizing "100% American ownership" and a commitment to paper-based transparency in election systems. Scott Leiendecker, a former Republican elections director in St. Louis and founder of election technology firm KNOWiNK, leads the new entity. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the acquisition follows years of legal and reputational challenges for Dominion, which became a focal point of false conspiracy theories alleging election rigging in the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

Liberty Vote's statement underscored a strategic pivot toward paper ballots, third-party auditing, and "election integrity," aligning with conservative policy priorities. Leiendecker emphasized the need to "rebuild trust from the ground up," a response to widespread skepticism of electronic voting systems. The rebranding includes a shift away from Dominion's Canadian corporate identity, though the company will maintain a presence in Canada. This transition comes amid heightened political scrutiny of election technology, with Donald Trump and allies repeatedly pushing for stricter voting rules, including expanded use of paper ballots and voter ID requirements.

Dominion's legal battles have been a defining feature of its post-2020 trajectory. The company secured a landmark $787.5 million defamation settlement with Fox News in 2023 after proving the network's repeated false claims about its voting machines. Additional settlements with Newsmax ($67 million) and Trump allies like Rudy Giuliani further highlighted the legal risks of promoting unsubstantiated election fraud narratives. These cases underscored the broader societal impact of misinformation, with Dominion's reputation and operations disrupted for years. The acquisition by Liberty Vote may signal a strategic effort to distance the company from these controversies while repositioning it as a bipartisan entity.

The new ownership's emphasis on paper ballots aligns with existing practices in most U.S. jurisdictions, where nearly all voters already cast ballots with auditable trails. However, Liberty Vote's focus on "compliance with President Trump's executive order" on election integrity has drawn attention, as the order faces legal challenges for potential unconstitutionality. Election experts note that while paper trails are standard, the political framing of "election integrity" often conflates legitimate security measures with baseless fraud claims. Leiendecker's prior experience with KNOWiNK, a company providing electronic poll books and voter databases, suggests a continued reliance on hybrid systems that blend digital and paper-based verification.

Political reactions to Dominion's rebranding remain mixed. While some election officials and cybersecurity experts have long advocated for paper ballots, others caution that the new entity's alignment with conservative priorities could fuel further polarization. In Georgia, for instance, bipartisan efforts to phase out Dominion's ballot-marking devices have gained traction amid security concerns. Meanwhile, Trump-aligned figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene have revived 2020-era conspiracy theories, despite state officials affirming the reliability of Dominion systems. The acquisition may thus deepen existing divides, as trust in election technology remains a contentious issue in U.S. politics.

The broader implications for the election technology industry are significant. By consolidating two major players-Dominion and Liberty Vote-the rebranding could influence voting system design and adoption in key battleground states ahead of the 2026 midterms. Analysts note that the shift toward paper-based systems may accelerate, but the effectiveness of such measures in restoring public confidence will depend on transparency and independent verification. As Liberty Vote positions itself as a leader in "secure, trustworthy" elections, the company's success will hinge on its ability to navigate both technical and political challenges.

Source: [1] Cointelegraph (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dominion-voting-systems-acquired-by-liberty-vote/)

[2] Politico (https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/09/dominion-voting-2020-election-sold-00600661)

[3] NPR (https://www.npr.org/2025/10/09/nx-s1-5569817/dominion-voting-liberty-vote-false-claims)

[4] NPR (https://www.npr.org/2023/04/18/1170339114/fox-news-settles-blockbuster-defamation-lawsuit-with-dominion-voting-systems)

[5] CNN (https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/09/politics/dominion-voting-systems-bought-election-ballots)

[9] 11 Alive (https://www.11alive.com/article/news/politics/computerized-voting-controversy-georgia-political-reaction/85-495aca50-0c9c-4d02-bea4-9dd3c6a0d4fe)

[10] MSNBC (https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/dominion-voting-machines-conspiracies-early-voting-2024-election-rcna176228)

[11] Bloomberg (https://www.bloomberg.com)